Changes in Tatkal Ticket Booking Time, Relief to IRCTC and Vyachts Agents

In a significant move, the railway has once again changed the timing of Tatkal ticket booking. The restriction on booking time for IRCTC and Vyachts agents has been reduced from 15 minutes to 10 minutes.

Now, agents will be able to book Tatkal tickets from 10:10 am onwards. Additionally, passengers will be able to book at least five reservations in advance.

According to railway sources, IRCTC has implemented a new system for Tatkal ticket booking. As per the new system, tatkal ticket booking will start from 10:10 am.

Earlier, the booking time for IRCTC and Vyachts agents was 10:15 am, by which time most Tatkal tickets would be booked, leaving agents unable to book tickets for their customers. With the new system, agents will get a five-minute head start, allowing them to book more tickets for passengers.

Similarly, sleeper class tatkal booking will also start five minutes earlier, at 11:10 am. Officials said that when the new system was introduced earlier, there was a 30-minute gap between tatkal booking for AC and sleeper classes. This has now been reduced to 10 minutes.

Direct Users Face Increased Difficulty

However, the change in tatkal booking time has increased difficulties for direct users. With the rise of mobile apps, many passengers book tickets online, leaving fewer options for those who prefer to book tickets directly from reservation centres.

The question now is whether the reduction in Tatkal booking time for IRCTC and Vyachts agents will further exacerbate the problem for direct users.

Recently, a Vyachts agent from Surat was caught booking crores of rupees worth of tatkal and opening tickets using software. With the new system, passengers will have to be prepared to book tickets within the first 10 minutes of the booking window.